Vol. 550 No. 1
92 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans he has to deal with mentally ill or disordered persons before the courts and in custody given that such persons were not dealt with under the Mental Health Act, 2001, and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7270/02]
The most appropriate way of addressing the needs of mentally ill persons before the courts and in custody is through the development of a high-quality forensic psychiatric service. Since 1999, a total of five additional consultant posts have been approved in this area.
The national health strategy –"Quality and Fairness – A Health System for You", contains a commitment that the Department of Health and Children and the health boards will work in close collaboration with the Irish Prisons Authority in improving the health of the prisoner population within the framework of the recently published report of the expert group on the structures and organisation of prison health care services in Ireland.
